The Europa League groupings are now available. Who will the English clubs face and who will the Czechs and their teams meet?

After Thursday’s Champions League draw, Friday afternoon in Istanbul is marked by the division of teams into groups for the next two cup competitions. From 1pm onwards, the Europa League draw, which this time will be without Czech teams, will take place.

The last champion from Frankfurt will face a battle in the most prestigious club football competition in Europe this year, just like Plzeň.

Both Eintracht’s defence of their victory and Viktoria’s participation in the Europa League may happen in the spring, as the third-placed teams from the Champions League group stages traditionally continue in the play-offs of this less prestigious competition.

Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel took the lot in the Turkish capital. He is the winner of the 1980 UEFA Cup, a feat he achieved with Frankfurt. The draw was also attended by Zoltán Gera, former Ferencváros and Fulham player and ambassador of this year’s Europa League final.

The groups look evenly matched. The two English big clubs also know the names of their opponents. Arsenal will play PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimta and Zurich. Manchester United awaits Real Sociedad, Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia with captain Jan Lecjaks.

Vaclik’s Olympiakos will play Karabakh, Freiburg and Nantes. Fenerbahçe, where Filip Novak is based, has Dynamo Kiev, Stade Rennes and Larnaca in its group.

The Europa League group stage battles kick off on Thursday 8 September, with the knockout phase scheduled for 16 February. The final will be hosted by Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on 31 May.

Europa League group stage draw

group A:: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Bodø/Glimt, Zurich

group B:: Dynamo Kiev, Stade Rennes, Fenerbahçe, Larnaca

group C:: AS Roma, Ludogorets Razgrad, Real Betis, HJK Helsinki

group D:: Braga, Malmö, Union Berlin, Union Saint-Gilloise

group E:: Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sheriff Tiraspol, Omonia

group F: Lazio Rome, Feyenoord, Midtjylland, Sturm Graz

group G:: Olympiakos, Karabakh, Freiburg, Nantes

group H:: CZ Belgrade, Monaco, Ferencváros, Trabzonspor

Source: UEFA Europa League